Combination bed and couch.



2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

G. L. FENNER.

COMBINATION BED AND COUCH.

APPLIOATION FILED 0m. 3. 1904.

Valli/l6 Wifnaoaao 17 675 UNITED STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. FENNER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURL ASSIGNOR TO VALETTE K.SAMMONS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINATION BED AND COUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,903, dated May 16,1905.

Application filed October 3, 1904. Serial No. 226,976.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. FENNER, a citizen of the United States,residing in Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination Beds andCouches, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to improvements in combination beds and couches.

It relates particularly to couches of the well-known Davenport style, inwhich the back and seat may be positioned to form, with thesupporting-frame, a bed.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction by which theback and seat when arranged to form a bed will be automatically disposedin a symmetrical position upon opposite sides of the medial line of thebed-frame.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction by whichthe couch may be converted into a bed by manipulation of the parts fromthe side of the couch opposite the wall, .thus avoiding the moving ofthe couch from the wall for the purpose of permitting the operator topass behind the couch and effect the conversion.

The peculiarities of my invention are hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1 isa top view show lines are shown the positions of the parts when the seatis swung so as to release the locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view taken on the dotted line 0 d of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view taken on the dotted line 0 (Z of Fig. 1, theparts being represented in solid lines in the positions represent- 5 edin Fig. 2, the dotted lines representing the positions of the partsafter the seat member has been swung to the horizontal position. Fig. 5is an end elevation view of one of the locking devices and partsconnected therewith in the positions occupied by them when the seat andback members are in alinement with each other and in the horizontalposition.

Similar characters of reference denote similar parts.

The bed-frame comprises a base 1, preferably an open-top horizontal box,to the ends of which are secured, respectively, the vertical end members2.

3 and 4 denote,respectively, the seat and 5 back members, eachcomprising, preferably,

a rectangular frame, which maybe upholstered in the ordinary manner. Theends of the seat and back members are provided each at the side adjacentthe opposite member with arms 5, preferably rigidly connected to theirrespective members and hinged to each other, respectively, bypintle-pins 6. Two rockerarms 7 are pivotally mounted at their lowerends on the end members 2 of the bed-frame by means of the transversebolts 8, secured, respectively, to said end members. The upper ends ofthe rocker-arms 7 are pivotally connected to the arms 5 by means of thebolts 6, respectively, and thus form a swinging support for the seat andback members 3 and 4. The lateral swinging of the rocker-arms 7 isautomatically controlled by means of two arms or guides 9, pivoted eachat one end to the adjacent end 2 of the bed-frame and piv- 5 oted at itsother end to the adjacent end of the back member. The means forreleasably locking the back and seat members in a position at rightangles to each other comprises the following parts: Two bars 10 arepivot- 9 ally mounted, respectively, on the bolts 11, secured in therespective ends of the seat member 3, said bars 10 being positioned,preferably, on the inner sides of the frame forming the seat member andhaving their free ends slidably mounted, respectively, in the catches,preferably staples 12, secured, respectively, one at each end on theinner side spectively, by means of the transverse pins 15,

to the sides of the bars 10 at points above a straight line connecting,respectively, the notches 13 and bolts 11. The free end of each dog 14is provided on its under side with a notch 16, disposed slightly nearerthe outer end of the adjacent bar 10 than the notch 13. When in theposition shown in Fig. 2 in solid lines, the dogs 14 are positioned withthe notches 16 out of engagement with the staples 12. To release theseat member and swing it to the horizontal position, the seat 3 is swungto the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thuswithdrawing the dog14, with the bars 10, until the notches 16 engage the staples 12. If theseat member 3 be now moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, the dogs14, engaging with the staples 12, will swing the bars 10 at their freeends upwardly, thus permitting the notched ends of said bars 10 to movepast the staples 12, allowing the seat to be moved to the horizontalposition to form, with the back 4, the bed. On the outer edge, near themiddle of the seat member 3, is provided a loop 17, of any suitablematerial, by means of which the back and seat menbers may be moved tothe positions desire When it is desired to arrange the couch in the formof a bed, the parts being positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, theoperator grasps the loop 17 and swings the seat member to the verticalposition, as shown in Fig. 4, atthe same time causing rotation of theback 4 through the intermediacy of thearms 10, staples 12, arms 5, andpins 6. When the parts are thus swung, the arms 9, being pivoted to theends 2 and the back 4, will swing the rocker-arms 7 laterally to theposition shown in Fig. 4, thus positioning the back and seat membersupon opposite sides, respectively, of the medial line of the bed-frameand disposing said members symmetrically relative to the bed-frame. Theseat member 3 may then be moved to release the locking devices, asalready described, after which it may be swung so as to lie flatwise onthe base 1. With the parts so positioned the two members forming the bedwill project laterally the same distance from the sides of the base. Itwill thus be seen that by means of the arms 9 and the swinging supportcomprising the rocker-arms 7 the bed and seat members may beautomatically positioned to form a bed the two halves of which will liesymmetrically upon the bedframe, and the manipulation for converting thebed into a couch, or' vice versa, may be performed by the operator whenoccupying a single position and without necessitating his withdrawingthe bed from the wall.

Various modifications of my invention may be resorted to withoutdeparting from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, of alaterally-movable support pivoted to the bed-frame, a seat member and aback member pivotally connected together and to said support, and anequalizing member pivoted to the bed-frame and to one of said members.

2. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo supporting members pivoted to the bed-frame, a seat member and aback member pivotally connected to each other and to said supportingmembers, and movable to and fro therewith, and means by which saidsupporting members are laterally swung when the seat and back membersare swung on said supporting members.

3. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo supporting members pivoted to the bed-frame, a seat member and aback member pivotally connected to each other and to said supportingmembers, and movable to and fro therewith, and an equalizing memberpivoted to said bedirame and to one of said seat and back memers.

4. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo rocker-arms pivoted at their lower ends to the bed-frame, a seatmember and a back member pivotally connected to each other and to theupper ends respectively of the said bars, and two equalizing-armspivoted respectively to the bedframe and to one of said seat and backmembers.

5. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, of alaterally-movable support pivoted to the bed-frame, a seat member and aback member pivoted to said support and pivoted to each other so as toswing from a position at right angles to each other to a position in thesame plane with each other, means for releasably locking the seat andback members in the position at right angles to each other, and meansfor laterally swinging said support when the seat and back members areswung on said support.

6. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofthe seat and back members pivoted to the frame so as to swing laterallyand rotate thereon, and. hinged to each other so as to be swung from aposition in alinement with each other to a position at right angles toeach other, means for releasably locking said members in theright-angled position, and means connected with one of said members andthe bed-frame by which the seat and back members are laterally swungwhen they are rotated.

7. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-framecomprising a base and ends, of two rocker-arms pivoted to said frame,the seat and back members pivoted to each other and to said rocker-armsres pectively and movable from a position in alinement with each otherto a position at right angles to each other, releasable locking meansfor holding said members in the right-angled position, and an armpivoted to one of said members and to said frame so as to swing saidmembers laterally when they are swung on the rocker-arms.

8. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofrocker-arms pivoted at their lower ends to the bed-frame, the back andseat members, each having arms pivoted to said rocker-arms and to thearms of the opposite member respectively, and one or more arms pivotedto the bed-frame and to one of said seat and back members so as tocontrol the movement of the rocker-arms when said members are swungthereon.

9. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame ofrocker-arms pivoted at their lower ends to the bed-frame, the seat andback members each having arms pivoted to said rocker-arms and to thearms of the opposite member respectively, releasable locking means forholding said members in a position normally at right angles to eachother, and one or more arms pivoted to the bed-frame and to one of saidmembers so as to control the movement of the rocker-arms when said seatand back members are both swung on the rocker-arms.

10. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the back and seat members bothrotatively mounted on said support independently of each other, areleasable means for locking said members in a position substantially atright angles to each other, and when released permitting said members tobe swung in alinement with each other, and means connecting with one ofsaid members and the bed-frame for controlling the swinging of saidsupport.

11. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back membersindependently rotatable on said support, releasable means for lockingsaid members in a position substantially at right angles to each otherbut permitting when released, their disposal in alinement with eachother, and means connected with the bed-frame for swinging said supportto a position in which the said members will be disposed remembersindependently rotatable on said sup- 7 port, releasable means forlocking said members in a position substantially at right angles to eachother but permitting, when released, their disposal in alinement witheach other, and a controlling-arm mounted on the bed-frame and connectedwith one of said members for swinging said support.

13. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back membersindependently rotatable on said support, releasable means for lockingsaid members in a position substantially at right angles to each other,and an arm pivoted to the bed-frame and to one of said members.

14. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo swinging arms mounted on the bed-frame, the back and seat membersindependently rotatable on said swinging arms, releasable means forlocking said members in a position substantially at right angles to eachother but permitting, when released, their disposal in alinement witheach other, and means connected with the bed-frame for swinging saidarms when said members are rotated in the locked position upon saidarms.

15. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo swinging arms mounted thereon, the seat and back membersindependently rotatable on said swinging arms, releasable means forlocking said members in a position substantially at right angles to eachother, but permitting, when released, their disposal in alinement witheach other, and a guide mounted on the bed-frame and engaging one ofsaid members for swinging said swinging arms when said members arerotated in the locked position on said arms.

16. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, oftwo swinging arm's mounted thereon, the seat and back membersindependently rotatable on said arms, releasable means for locking saidmembers in a position substantially at right angles to each other, butpermitting when released, their disposal in alinement with each other,and an arm pivoted to the bed-frame and to one of said members.

17 In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, of aswinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back membersindependently rotatable on said support, means controlled by therotation of one of said members for laterally swinging said support, acatch carried by one of said members, an arm pivoted to the other memberand provided with means for engaging with said catch when either memberhas been rotated on the swinging support to a certain position,

and a device carried by said arm for releasing said arm from the catchwhen the members are moved to the proper position.

18. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back members pivotedthereto and to each other, means controlled by the swinging of onemember on said support for swinging said support, an arm pivoted to onemember, a catch on the other member adapted to be engaged by said armwhen either member has been swung to a certain position relative to theother member, and a dog mounted on said arm and adapted to engage saidcatch and disengage therefrom said arm when either of said members hasbeen moved to the proper position relative to the other.

19. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back members pivotallyconnected to said support and to each other, a catch on one member, anarm pivoted to the other member and provided with a notch adapted toreceive said catch when the members are moved relative to each other toa certain position, and a dog pivoted to said arm and provided with anotch adapted to receive said catch and disengage the arm therefrom whenthe members are swung to the proper position.

20. In a combined bed and couch, the combination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back members pivotallyconnected with said swinging support and with each other, means forswinging said support when one of said members is swung on the support,a staple mounted on one member, an arm pivoted to the other member andslidably mounted in said staple and provided with a notch adapted toreceive said staple for locking said members relatively in a givenposition, and a lifting device carried by said arm and adaptedto engagethe staple and lift the arm free from engagement therewith when themembers are properly positioned.

21. In a combined bed and couch, the com bination with the bed-frame, ofa swinging support mounted thereon, the seat and back members pivotallyconnected with said support and each other, an arm pivoted to thebed-frame and to one of said members and positioned so as to swing thesaid support when the member to which the arm is pivoted is swung on thesupport, astaple mounted on one of said members, an arm slidably mountedin said staple and having a notch for engaging the staple, a dog pivotedto the notched arm and provided with a notch for engaging the staple soas to disengage the arm carrying it from the staple upon proper relativemovement of said members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES L. FENNER.

Witnesses:

WARREN D. HOUSE, HENRY F. ROSE.

